Improvement-in electro-magnetic signals for switches and draw-bridges



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lNo.-H9,137, E ema sep.19,17f:.

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'L l THOMAS s. HALL. am t Improvement in vEleftro-lVlagneic4 Signas for Switches and Draw-Bridges.

Patented Sep. 19,v 197|.

Nog'ngns.

. t THGMAS-SI HA-LL. Y,

`lrnprovement in Electro-Magnetic Signals for Switches and Draw-Bridges.

No. 119,137. v Patented"Sep...1-9, 1.871.

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7 NITED STATES PATENT rrron.

THoMAs s. HALL, 0F wnsT MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l19,l37,dated September 19, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. HALL, of West Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electro-Magnetic Signals for Switches and Draw-Bridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and e'xact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawllg- Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of my signal apparatus as applied to a railroad switch. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same as applied to a draw-bridge. Fig. 8 is a sectional face view of a signal connected to the key. of the drawbridge and operated by mechanical means. Fig. 4 is a side view of the draw-bridge at the point of its connection. Fig. 5 is an inside view ,of the electro-magnetic signal-honse, illustrating the connections of the signal with the battery and line-wires.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists inthe arrangement of a raising-key in combination with the switch-rail of a switch, and with line-wires connecting said key with a visible and with an audible signal in such a manner that whenever the switch is turned from the main line the circuit through the magnets operating the visible and audible signals are closed, and the visible signal'is displayed and the audible signal set in motion; and as soon as the switch is turned back to the main line the signals are taken off or' stopped. It consists further in the arrangement of a key which connects,

by means of suitable line-Wires, with a visible and an audible signal, in combination with the lockbolt of a draw-bridge, in such a manner that whenever the lock-bolt is pushed back the circuit through the signal-m agnet is closed, and the signals are put on and kept on until the lock-bolt is returned to its locking position.

In the drawing, A designates the main line of a railroad track, which is interrupted either by switch-rails B, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, or by a draw-bridge, C, as shown in Fig. 2.

` The switch-rails B, Fig. l, connect by a rod, a., with a key, K, composed of a lever, b, that turns on a pivot, c,l(see Fig.` 1*,) and from which rises a plug, d, carrying a metallic projection, e,

that extends up between the metal plates ff.

These plates are insulated from each other, and they connect one, with the line-wire 11 and the other with the line-wire 12. If the switch-rails are in line with the main track, the projection e ,is in such a position that it does not touch either of the plates f f; but if the switch-rails are turned oi from the main line, the plug d turns on its center by the action of the lever b, and the projection c is brought in metallic contact with both plates f f as described in my patent No. 90,744, dated June 1, 1869. It must be remarked, however, that other devices might be made to effect this purpose of closing the circuit through the wires 11 and 12, and I do not coniine myself to the device above described. The line-wires l1 and 12 extend into the signal-house l), Fig. 5, andthe wire ll connects with one pole of a battery, E, situated in said signal-house. The wire 12 yconnects with one 'end of the helix of an electro-magnet, g, and the other end of this helix connects, 'by wire 13, with the second pole of the battery E, so that as soon as the wires 11 and 12 are brought in metallic contact with each other by means of the projection e and plates ff', or otherwise, the circuit through the electro-magnet g is closed. The armature h of this electro-magnet connects, Vby a lever, t', and rod j, with a lever, lc, mounted on a rock-shaft, l, from which extends an arm, m, that connects, by a chain, n, with a pulley, o. This pulley is firmly connected to the lever p, which carries the signal q, and both the lever and the pulley turn on the same fulcrum-pin r. A weight, s, serves to counterbalance the signal q. As soon as the armature h is attracted by its magnet g the signal q is caused to swing up to a position opposite the aperture t in the signal-house D, and it is retained in this position until the circuit through the electro-magnet gis broken, which takes place whenever the switch-rails are brought in line with the main track.

The signal-house is intended to be situated at thedistance of half a mile, more or less, from the switch, so that an approaching train on passing'thesignal-house can be readily stopped be- Wires 14 and 15 to the alarm-bell F, which is situated close to the switch, and serves to call the attention of the switch-tender to the fact that his switchis not in linewith themain track. The

Wires lll and l5 extend from metallic abutments a af, situated in the signalhouse D, and these abutments are brought in metallic contact with each other by a key, t, which connects with the armature-lever of the electro-magnet g and is pressed up against said abutments Whenever the armature h is attracted. YWhen the Wires 14 and l5 are thus brought in metallic contact the circuit of the batteryG through the alarm-bell mag net, Fig. 5, is closed, and the alarm-bell keeps ringing until the armature It falls back from its electro-magnet g. By these means all accidents by the Wrong position of a switch can he avoided provided the signals are properly observed.

In applying my signal apparatus to a drawbridge C, (see Fig. 2,) I use the same Wires, l1 and l2, and 14, and l5 and also the same signalhouse D and alarm-bell F, as previously described.

The circuit through the Wires ll and l2 is closed' by a key, w, Fig. 2, the head of which is pressed up against the lock-bolt H ofthe drawbridge by means of a spring, .12. If the lock-bolt is drawn back so as to release the draw-bridge, the key fw is pressed in and the circuit through the Wires 11 and l2 is closed. It is obvious that the construction of this key can be modified in Various Ways, and I do not Wish to confine myself to any specific construction.

I have used with advantage a key such as described in my patent No. 90,743, dated June l, 1869. It consists of a plain rod provided with a ycollar of metal and sliding in two'standards, one

of which is in metallic contact with the body of the rod, While the other is insulated therefrom as long as the collar is not allowed to come in contact with it. But if the lock-bolt of the'drawbridge is dra-Wn back, the collar of the key is pressed up against the inner standard and inetallic contact is established between the two standards and the wires ll and 12 which connect With the saine. The lock-bolt H is operated by a hand-crank, af, and it forms a stop for a shaft, I1', from which extends a rope, c', to a signal, d, set right over the track, (see Figs. 3 and 4.) The end of the shaft b is flat, and as long as it bears against the lock-bolt the signal d is kept up. In the under edge of the lock-bolt H is a notch, ef, (see Fig. 4,) and if said lock-bolt is moved clear back this notch comes opposite the flat end of this shaft b', and thereby said shaft is released and the signal d descends. By this purely mechanical attachment the safety of my apparatus is materially increased, since the signal d' will not stay up unless the lock-bolt is brought in its locking position. But the electromagnetic sign als themselves are a good safeguard against danger, since the signal in the house D will be kept displayed and the alarmbell kept ringing until the lock-bolt has been thrown forward in its locking position, and it can hardly he supposed that the draw-tender would throw the lock-bolt in this position unless the drawbridge is closed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The arrangement of a key, K, connected by a rod, b, to the switchvrails, and by Wires 11,12, 14, and l5 to the signal-house D and alarm-bell F, substantially in the manner herein shown and described.

2. The arrangement of a key, w, controlled by. the lock-bolt H of a drawbridge, and connected by Wires ll, l2, 14, and l5 with a signal-house D and alarm-bellF, substantially as herein set forth.

, THOMAS S. HALL. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

